[UK] Unite demands ‘fair tips’ law as Pizza Express slashes server gratuities

Unite has renewed its demand for “fair tips” legislation as news emerged that Pizza Express had slashed the proportion of gratuities paid to its waiting staff, Morning Star Online reports.

Pizza Express increased deductions from 30 to 50 per cent in order to pay kitchen staff more when its restaurants reopened on May 17, in a divide-and-rule manoeuvre heavily criticised by the hospitality union

Unite said the change would deprive minimum-wage waiting staff of a sizeable chunk of their already low income. The union suggested that by doing so the chain was avoiding offering better basic wages to kitchen staff, as it seeks to recruit new workers following the sacking of 2,500 during lockdown.

Unite has been a long-term campaigner for legislation to stop employers abusing tipping and continues to demand that the UK government deliver on promises made three times since 2016.

Pizza Express maintain that the decision was made by an entirely employee-led staff tronc (tips pool) committee and had originally been taken before the first lockdown in 2020.

Unite national officer Dave Turnbull said, “It was only a few months ago that Pizza Express fired 2,500 loyal employees instead of registering them on the job-retention scheme.

“But rather than pay kitchen workers competitive wages to attract applications, Pizza Express is boosting back-of-house pay by depriving its minimum-wage waiting staff of their hard-earned tips, which form a substantial part of their income.”

Mr Turnbull said the chain should not be “pitting its employees against each other” but should pay kitchen workers a decent wage and allow front-of-house staff 100 per cent of their tips. Although, he reasoned, “in an ideal world,” staff would not have to rely on tips.

He said that legislation must include “a statutory code which provides access to remedy for workers who believe tronc decisions are being unfairly manipulated to the benefit of their employer.”

Unite has renewed its demand for “fair tips” legislation as news emerged that Pizza Express had slashed the proportion of gratuities paid to its waiting staff, Morning Star Online reports.

Pizza Express increased deductions from 30 to 50 per cent in order to pay kitchen staff more when its restaurants reopened on May 17, in a divide-and-rule manoeuvre heavily criticised by the hospitality union

Unite said the change would deprive minimum-wage waiting staff of a sizeable chunk of their already low income. The union suggested that by doing so the chain was avoiding offering better basic wages to kitchen staff, as it seeks to recruit new workers following the sacking of 2,500 during lockdown.

Unite has been a long-term campaigner for legislation to stop employers abusing tipping and continues to demand that the UK government deliver on promises made three times since 2016.

Pizza Express maintain that the decision was made by an entirely employee-led staff tronc (tips pool) committee and had originally been taken before the first lockdown in 2020.

Unite national officer Dave Turnbull said, “It was only a few months ago that Pizza Express fired 2,500 loyal employees instead of registering them on the job-retention scheme.

“But rather than pay kitchen workers competitive wages to attract applications, Pizza Express is boosting back-of-house pay by depriving its minimum-wage waiting staff of their hard-earned tips, which form a substantial part of their income.”

Mr Turnbull said the chain should not be “pitting its employees against each other” but should pay kitchen workers a decent wage and allow front-of-house staff 100 per cent of their tips. Although, he reasoned, “in an ideal world,” staff would not have to rely on tips.

He said that legislation must include “a statutory code which provides access to remedy for workers who believe tronc decisions are being unfairly manipulated to the benefit of their employer.”